The Searcher glanced at his companion. Already the stimulus of the bath had succumbed to fatigue. The face was drawn and hollow; the eyes red; the mouth twitched. Ralston turned away, his old loathing and disgust returning in an instant.
The driver turned into Fifty-seventh Street, and the sun jumped above the housetops. Suddenly Steadman burst into tears, sobbing in long-drawn hollow sobs like a wearied child, covering his face with his hands.
"Come, come, buck up! This won't do!" exclaimed Ralston.
"O God!" groaned Steadman tremulously. "I can't face her. Turn around! Anywhere!"
"You shall see her!" answered the other. "And now!"
Steadman wiped his eyes. His chest heaved convulsively. He had grown quite pale.
"Don't make me!" he gasped.
"You shall see her—as you are," repeated Ralston, "and thank her for having saved you from disgrace."
Steadman said nothing more. The cab drew up before the door of an apartment house.
"Here we are," said Ralston. "Get out!"